Colonel John Blashford-Snell CBE is one of Britain’s most celebrated explorers, renowned for leading some of the world’s most ambitious expeditions. In 1968, at the invitation of Emperor Haile Selassie, he was commissioned by the British Army to select, train and lead a 60-strong expedition to make the first descent of Ethiopia’s legendary Blue Nile. The success of this pioneering venture established his reputation as an exceptional expedition leader and opened the door to even greater challenges.

Among his many achievements were the first vehicle crossing of the formidable Darién Gap between Panama and Colombia in 1971–72, and the exploration of almost the entire 2,700-mile Zaire (now Congo) River in 1974–75. These expeditions combined adventure with important environmental, scientific and medical research, leaving a lasting legacy far beyond exploration itself.

John will be talking about Operation Drake and Raleigh, on which he took both HRH The Prince and Princess of Wales, and some of his other expeditions. There will be plenty of highly humorous stories to enjoy followed by a Q&A session. This event is presented by the Torbay Civic Society, with special ticket price for members.

Over the course of his remarkable career, Colonel Blashford-Snell has organised and led more than 100 expeditions across some of the world’s most remote and inhospitable regions. A practical engineer, inspirational leader and gifted communicator, he also pioneered innovative techniques for navigating white water in inflatable boats, methods that have since become widely adopted around the world.

Following the success of the Blue Nile Expedition, Colonel John Blashford-Snell founded the Scientific Exploration Society (SES) in 1969 to promote scientific exploration around the world. With the patronage of the then, HRH The Prince of Wales and now HRH King Charles, he went on to lead the internationally acclaimed Operation Drake (1978–1980), bringing together 400 young people from 27 nations to work alongside scientists on research projects in 16 countries aboard the brigantine Eye of the Wind. This pioneering initiative inspired the creation of Operation Raleigh, through which more than 10,000 young people from 50 countries took part in challenging expeditions and community projects between 1984 and 1992.

Since retiring from the Army in 1991, Colonel Blashford-Snell has continued to lead scientific and humanitarian expeditions to remote regions of the world, while championing opportunities for young people and supporting environmental conservation. He remains President of the Scientific Exploration Society, has founded several charitable initiatives, and continues to inspire new generations of explorers.

His remarkable achievements have been recognised with numerous honours, including the MBE, OBE, and, in 2019, appointment as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to scientific research overseas and to young people in the UK. Today, he is widely regarded as Britain’s greatest living explorer and an inspirational speaker whose stories of courage, leadership and adventure captivate audiences worldwide.